Takedown Delights Moore With The Shorts Win

Takedown returned to the races with a narrow victory in the 2016 The Shorts at Royal Randwick this afternoon – much to the delight of trainer Gary Moore.

Ball Of Muscle took up the running from Dothraki and that pair looked as though they were going to fight out the finish, but Kaepernick and Takedown flew home late to make it a four way finish.

Kaepernick looked as though he was going to get up on the side, but Takedown was stronger in the final stages of the race to record the biggest win of his racing career to date in The Shorts.

Tim Clark timed his run perfectly on Takedown, but he was quick to pay credit to the training performance of Moore as well as the character of the son of Stratum.

“He is a big boy and he is a lovely quiet horse – he is such a gentleman,” Clark said.

“He is a pleasure to do anything with and he is a complete racehorse.

“He is all heart and credit has to Gary – he has done a terrific job with this horse.

“It is great to ride a big winner for him because he has been a great supporter of mine and he will be wrapped.

“Gary had a plan to run here and then the Premiere and then go to Melbourne.

“We thought that third or fourth-up when he got to 1400 would be ideal and this is just a bonus only the way.”

Takedown has been the banner horse for Moore since he joined the Sydney training ranks and he was absolutely over the moon to see his stable star take out The Shorts, with the colourful trainer racing out to the track to lead his horse back up the race.

“We got a Group 2,” an extremely excited Moore said.

“I would like to thank the owners – he is a wonderful animal and I am very grateful.

“He was fine-tuned for today and his body weight was perfect.”

Ball Of Muscle toughed it out to finish second from Kaepernick, while Dothraki was fourth after looming as the winner at the 100 metre mark.

Gai Waterhouse-trained English started the race as a clear favourite, but he was never able to get into the race after being settled towards the tail of the field.

Author: Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.